1,500 live turtles found wrapped in duct tape, stuffed in suitcases

The Bureau of Customs in the Philippines made an unusual discovery -- more than 1,500 live, exotic turtles wrapped in duct tape and stuffed in suitcases .

Monday, officials said the turtles, which included star, redfoot and African spurred tortoises, are worth $87,000 in American dollars and were found in four pieces of luggage that were unclaimed at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, CNN reported.

They are under a vulnerable classification by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but are part of the illegal exotic pet trade.